Assigbtos



J. E. CHRISTIE.

SAFETY LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5.191].

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEETI A TTORNEYS.

J. E. CHRISTIE.

" SAFETY LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5,1917.

1,324,034. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

% w & gk 5 J6 1 ENTO,

A TTORNEYS.

JOHN E. CHRISTIE, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNQR TD GHEISTZIE CUMBIL'NATTQEE AUTO LOCK 00., 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORFGEATTQN 01 UTAH.

SAFETY-L663? F013, A'UTQMOBILES.

Application filed July 5, 1917.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that T, JOHN E. CHRISTIE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Locks for Automobiles, of which the following is a'specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety locks for automobiles and particularly to looks for the ignition apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch lock of this character wherein the proper positioning of circuit closing devices is dependent upon the selection or a certain combination known to the owner only.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with a switch, a box and locking means dependent upon the position of the switch elements, which will prevent the unauthorized opening of the switch box unless by complete destruction or the same. As the switch elements can only be moved to operative position by a person acquainted with the combination, this additional safety measure-of locking the switch box also will contribute to insure the owner against theft or unauthorized use of the vehicle.

Another object of the invent-ion is to combine with a container holding several electrical units a combination switch lock adapt ed to assure the closure of the ignition circuit through said units in the desired way, and a means for preventing withdrawal or the units from the box, unless the lock is adjusted to its proper combination. The switch box which is accessible to the user of the car, therefore, does not only include elements for establishing and interrupting the ignition circuit, but it also includes locking elements for preventing unauthorized withdrawal of. the coil units from the container, and locking elements for preventing witi drawal of the cover from. the switch box.

With these and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and the invention is more fully described in the 50llowing specification.

Inthe drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container for the coil units with the switch lock fastened thereto, parts of thecontainer being broken away. I

Fig. 2 is a front view of the base plate with the switch elements mounted thereon. I

Specification of "Letters Patent.

cular grooves 4;

Patented Dec. ll, $59319.

Serial no. 172,209.

Fig. 3 is a ifront View of the plates supporting the contact springs.

Fig. 4; is a front view of the plates supporting the springs for the ratchet nieeha nism.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the plate in which the cams for the holding member or" the cover rotate.

Fig. 6 is a front view oi. the cover of the switch box.

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section through the switch lock.

includes, in combination with the spark plugs, current distribute'rs' or timing devices, transformer or induction coils, condensers, and vibrators. Vibrators, coils, and condensers are frequently combined to form a single unit, and several of these units are arranged on the dash board in front of the driver and are inclosed within a container which is readily accessible and from which these units may be removed for exchange or repair, whenever required.

In the device illustrated, for the sake of example, in the accompanying drawing, the units are shown as cubes U U U U inclosed in a container 1 and placed in juxtaposition. The container also comprises a detachable lid 2 normally held closed by side clasps 3.

The independent withdrawal or two adjacent units, as, for instance, the pair of units U ,U ,or U ,is prevented by the provision of a semi-circular groove 4: in the adjacent side surface of the units, the two semi-cirsupplementing each other to form a groove 5 of circular cross-section, and in this groove a locking pin 6, preferably of insulating material, like fiber or the like, is inserted.

The interlocking engagement of the two n central units U U is effected in the presentinstance by a pin 7, which passes through SUI the front wall of the container 1 and which is connected rigidly with a part of the switch lock S mounted on the front wall of the container, so that a withdrawal of the entire aggregate of units U to U is possi- 'ble only after the respective part of the switch box has 'beenremoved.

The switch'lock S shown in the drawings is mounted in a box 8 of approximately horseshoe shape, and is covered on the outer surface by a cover 9. The side wall of this box is provided near its top edge with inwardly projecting tongues 10, which have openings in opposition to openings 11 provided in bosses 12 in the front wall of the container 1. By. suitable screws 13 the box 8 may be secured to the container, the heads of the screws 13 being located underneath said cover, and the nuts 14 being located on the inner surface of the bosses 12.

Rotary switch elements, in the form of circular disks 15 of insulating material, are journaled in small brass bushings 16 rigidly secured to a base plate 17 of insulating material, which has openings 18 for screws 13. The circular disks 15 are rigidly mounted on metallic stems 19, the upper portions 20 of which have polygonal cross-section. Conductive segments 21 located in a portion of the periphery of the insulating disks 15 are connected with their stems 19 by a wire or rod 22 securely embedded in the insulating material of which this disk 15 is made.

A plate 23, overlying the base plate 17, serves as a support for current conducting springs; the two springs 24, 25 for the lower switch element 15 are connected respectively to terminal screws 26, 27, and an upper switch spring 28 serves for conducting the current from one of the upper switch elements 15 to the other. If the contact segment.21 of the lower switch element 15 will be brought into engagement with the left hand conducting spring 24, which is connected with the battery, the current will flow to the spring 24, segment 21, wire 22, stem 19, journal 16, wire 29 embedded in the base plate 17 journal 16 of an upper switch element 15; and if this switch element has its conducting segment 21 in contact with the upper spring 28, then from this spring to the third switch element 15, provided the metal segment 21 in this third switch element is also in contact position with respect to the spring 28.

The current then flows to the journal of this third switch element, a wire 30, embedded in the insulating base plate 17 leading to a terminal 31, which is connected in an yl suitable way with the units U to U.

be other spring 25 is connected with the magneto (Fig. 11), and any alteration in the position of the lower switch element 15 bringing its segment 21 out of contact with both springs 24, 25 or an alteration of tile position of any of the upper switch elements 15 breaking the contact of a segment 21 with the pertaining spring 28, will lead to a complete interruption of the ignition circuit.

The rotation of these switch elements is effected from the outside of the switch box by means of knobs 32, which are loosely rotatable in the cover of the box. 9 is provided with indications 33 circularly arranged with respect to each knob. Each knob 32 has at its inner end a socket 34 of a polygonal cross-section corresponding to the polygonal cross-section of the ends 20 of the stems 19. These cross-sections are preferably those of regular or symmetrical polygons, as, for instance, octagons.

A step by step rotation of each switch element is effected by a ratchet device, in about the following way:

A metal disk 35 concentrical with the stem 19 and above the circular insulating disk is provided with a series of sockets 36. An insulating plate 37 mounted on top of the insulating plate 23 is provided with recesses 38 for the disks 35 and also a plurality of The cover springs 39 projecting over the metal disks 35.' The ends of these springs carry balls 40 loosely rotatable therein and adapted to enter successively, when the switch elements are rotated, the various sockets 36 which move past the ball. The ball 40, if forced into one of these sockets, will temporarily secure the switch element 15 against further accidental or undesired rotation, but if the switch element-should be forcibly rotated, the ball will ride on the metal disk until another socket again arrives in opposition to the ball.

The spring-carrying plate 37 is covered by another plate-41 of insulating material, which is provided with cut-out portions adapted to receive the springs and preferably of a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the springs.

The cover9 is equipped with a disk 42 fastened thereto by a sleeve 43. This stem. as may be seen from the drawing, is formed of a cylindrical sleeve, preferably made of metal, secured to the inner side of the cover and which may be held thereto by rivets or by solder. The tubular stem 43 serves as a. support for a circular disk 42, which is rigidly held in position by a lateral flange 44 of the stem. The tubular stem 43 holds this disk immediately above the surface of the plate '41, which covers the recesses for the springs 39. This plate 41' is covered by another plate 45 of insulating material, and this last named plate has a circular cutout in which the holding member 42" is located.

Another plate 46, also made of insulating material and on top of the plate 45, has circular recesses 47, in which the polygonal stems 20 hold cam plates 48 of approxithe container 1 into the straight c' mately circular configuration. They are each provided with an arcuate cut-out 49,

'so that only it all of these cam plates T8 are in a position in which their cut-outs T9 are contiguous to the of the holding member l2 this holding dish may be withdrawn in axial direction from the switch box together with the cover. Tn Fig. 5 two of the cam elements T8- are shown in a position in which they prevent withdrawal of the holding dish... The arcuate cut-out extends over are of about to-rty-five-degrees; hence there is only one position out of eight conditions which. may be assumed by each cam in which the holding member 42 will not be obstructed by the respective cam.

' The fiber plate 46 is covered by another fiber plate 50, which has an opening 51 for the tubular stem 4:3 and for the stems 20.

The springs 2d, 25 terminate in small loops 53, which are provided with an internal thread adapted to receive the holding screws under the heads of which lead in wires are clamped.

The conductor 30 also terminates a small metal loop 54 provided with an internal thread and acting as holding nut tor the screw 31, which clamps the Wire leading to said common bar. The cover 9 is rigidly connected with insulating holding pin 7 projecting through the wall of ular groove between the units U U it sulating pin 7 is fastened to the tubu stem 43 by a transverse pin 55 The operation of this combined switch and lock is about as follows:

Before the cover 9 of the switch box is fastened to the tongue 10 by the small screws 56, the switch elements 15 may be placed in a position in which they complete the circuit. While the cover is still removed, the three knobs of insulating material which project through the cover may then be placed on the stems to indicate by their points or pins 57 the desired combinations. Tn Fig. 6 the combination l8 i,

for instance, is selected for these actuating elements. The owner also knows that in rotating the lowermost knob from the position two steps to the left (namely position -6) the switch lock will convey the current from the storage battery to the units.

Before the switch box is closed the hold ing cams 48 may be placed on the stems in such position that they will permit insertion and release of the cover when the switch elements are in the circuit closing position. This would mean that the selected combination l'fl4 is also the combination at which the cover may be taken oil.

The cams 48, however, may also be placed on their stems 20 at difi erent angular position, so that they will afiord release of the holding member 2 at other combinations.

T claim:

1. In a switch, a box, a plurality of switch elements movable independent of each other, a cover for the box, and means controlled by any one of said switch elements for pre venting withdrawal of said cover from the box.

2. Tu a switch, a switch lock, a box, a plurality of switch elements located in the box, means accessible from the outside of the box for moving said switch elements independently of each other, and other means dependent on the first named means for looking said cover to the box;

3. Tn a switch loch a box, a cover for the same, a plurality of rotary switch elements adapted to effect the closure or opening of a circuit at predetermined positions of said elements, and means operatively and'permanently associated with each of said elements for preventing withdrawal of the cover from the box.

at. Tn a switch lock, the combination of a box, a cover for the same, a plurality of switch elements rotatably mounted in said box, means on the outside of the box for rotating said switch elements successively, and means operatively associated with said switch elements "for preventing withdrawal of the cover except at a predetermined position of said switch elements.

5. Tn switch lock, the combination of a box, switch springs, a plurality of circular disks rotatably mounted in said box and adapted to close a circuit through said switch springs at predetermined angular positions, means accessible from the outside of said box for moving said circular disks from and to said predetermined positions, and ratchet devices operatively associated with said circular disks for eiiecting a step by step rotary movement or" said disks upon manipulation of the means accessible from the outside of the box.

6. Tn a switch lock, the combination of a plurality of rotatable circular insulating disks, a plurality of circuit conducting springs associated with said disks and in engagement with the circumference of the same, other disks each rigidly mounted on one of said first named circular disks. and ratchet devices coacting with said second named disks to effect a step by step movement of said first named circular disks, said first named insulating disks being provided with a current conducting segment adapted for engagen'ient at a predetermined position of each disk with a current conducting spring. l

7. Tn a switch lock, the combination of a box, a cover for the same, an insulating disk rotatably mounted in said box, a spring means for imparting rotation to the disk, a

circuit conducting segment in the disk adapted for coiiperation with the spring, a polygonal stem attached to the disk, and a polygonal socket loosely mounted in the cover of the box adapted for operative engagement with the stem immaterial of the angular relation of the socket to the stem.

8. In combination with a switch box, a. cover for the same, a circular insulating disk rotatably mounted in the switch box, a central stem thereon, a conductive spring in wiping engagement-with the circumference of the disk, a conductive segment inserted into the body of the disk and extending to the circumference of the same, said segment being conductively connected with the stem of the disk, another disk rigidly mounted on the same stem having a plurality of sockets equidistantly spaced on the circumference of a circle, a ball, and a yielding support for said ball, the ball being adapted to enter the sockets so as toact as a ratchet device for the disks.

9. In a switch, the combination with a box, an insulating plate mounted in said box, an insulating switch disk rotatable on said plate, a ratchet disk parallel to said switch disk and in a different plane, a second insulating plate, a spring mounted on said second plate, the ratchet disk being provided with a plurality of sockets equidistantly spaced on the circumference of a circle, and a ball loosely supported by said spring adapted for successive engagement with said sockets, whereby a step by step rotation of said disk in either direction is attainable.

10. In combination with a switch box, a

cover for the same, a rotary circuit closing element rotatably mounted in the box, a stem secured to said rotary element, said stem having a polygonal cross-section, a socket rotatably-mounted in the cover and having an opening the area of which corre sponds to the polygonal sectional area of -the stem, a knob connected with the socket e box an apted, upon 0 disk, to of said disks attached to for operative engagement after adjustment to bring said disk to and from circuit conductive position upon rotation of the socket.

12. In a switch look, a plurality of movable switch elements, a cover, and means associated with said switch elements for locking the cover to the box, the box looking position being independent of the circuit closing position of said elements.

13. In a switch, the combination of a plurality of rotary disks forming circuit closing elements, a box, a cover for the same, said rotary disks being located ina single plane, a holding element secured to the cover, and means functionally integral with the switch elements and located in a plane different from the same for preventing withdrawal of said cover and holding elethe cover and located in a plane different from the plane of the switching elements, and means rotatable together with said switch elements and located in a plane different from said holding element andfrom said switch elements for preventing withdrawal of said cover and holding element except at a predetermined position of said switch elements.

15. In combination with a switch, a box, a cover for the same, a plurality of ratchetcontrolled rotary switch elements, all mounted in a single plane, means in the cover for imparting rotation to said elements, a holding member secured to the cover and projecting into the box, and a cam mounted on each of said switch elements for locking coiiperation with the holding member on the cover.

JOHN E. CHRISTIE. 

